Evolution of Illumination.

Light has been an integral part of human evolution. The very first and natural source of light was sunlight. As humans began to evolve and civilisation took shape, so did the source of light. Construction Times takes a look at the fascinating journey of lights and switches.

Early Days

The discovery of fire can be considered as a major break-through in the evolution of light. Even today, in the remotest areas, where electricity supply has not reached, fire is still the only source of illumination.

As humans travelled for miles, man-made lighting and torches were widely used. According to the Illuminating Engineering Society, 'the first attempt at man-made lighting occurred about 70,000 years ago. The first lamp was invented made of a shell, hollowed-out rock, or other similar non-flammable object which was filled with a combustible material (probably dried grass or wood), sprinkled with animal fat (the original lighter fluid) and ignited.” The source of fuel used for such lightings were oil, wax, or combustible material surrounded by non-flammable material. Then came the era of gas lamps which were commonly used until the late 18th century.

As humans evolved so did their thirst for invention to create a more liveable environment. The greatest invention of mankind in the illumination space has been the electric light bulbs by American inventor and businessman Thomas Alva Edison. In 1879, Edison built his first high resistance, incandescent electric light.

While the incandescent bulbs continued to dominate as the only source of lighting, it was only around 1904 that the fluorescent lights were introduced commercially by another American electrical engineer and inventor Daniel McFarlan Moore. During the similar times, yet another US electrical engineer and inventor Peter Cooper Hewitt developed the first mercury-vapor light that was both high efficiency and compatible with standard electrical infrastructure in 1901. This not only had higher efficiency, but was also compatible with standard electrical infrastructure. The 20th century was the period of high intensity discharge (HID) lamps.

Similarly, the first light switch employing "quick-break technology" was invented by John Henry Holmes in 1884. Many specialized forms of switches were created including the toggle switch, rotary switch, mercury switch, push-button switch, reversing switch, relay, and circuit breaker, among others.

Changing Times

Over the centuries, the journey of light and switches have evolved significantly. It was only in the 20th century that the world came across the light emitting diode or the LED technology, an invention of American scientist Nick Holonyak in the 1960s. Holonyak demonstrated the LED on October 9, 1962 while working at General Electric's research laboratory in New York.

Since then, there have been various researches and today we have tech-enable and AI/ML backed motion sensor illumination products, which not only enhance the aesthetics from the architectural point of view, but are more energy efficient. This is largely on the back of the increasing urbanization and the high demand for digital light.

According to a report by Grand View Research, the major factors driving the demand for light sensors are the increasing use of consumer electronics, miniaturization of sensors, and the growing demand for implementing renewable energy as well as the advancements in smart homes and outdoor lighting. Further, the recent advancements in sensor technologies have been fueled by low-cost and high-speed electronic circuits, advanced manufacturing technologies, and innovative signal processing methods. These new developments in the field have provided promising technical solutions, thereby increasing the reliability, quality, and economic efficiency of technical products.

Light sensors have become a commonly used component in emerging tech innovations and smart city applications, often supported by Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies. Miniaturization and enhancements in sensor technologies have resulted in an increased demand for smart electronics, such as LED televisions, smartphones, and smart lighting systems, across the globe, the report said.

Smart lighting has already demonstrated the power of voice to interact with and control lights switches and plugs. With Alexa, one can create voice-first experiences to interact with the lighting products. Many companies are already investing in the technology, which can be integrated with voice assistants.

“Being a part of the interior design industry, we have to keep ourselves updated with the latest trends across all segments. We, wish to build and design homes that have functional automation features in the entire space. Hence, the bespoke solution for an environmentally conscious client will be a combination between energy-efficient and Alexa enabled lighting systems. A lot of smart home gadgets try to disappear into your homes, but color-changing smart lights from the likes of Lifx, Nanoleaf, Sylvania, and Philips Hue are an exception. With numerous shades of lights available with just a voice command or a few taps on your phone, these lights certainly aren't subtle. Instead, the idea is to establish a more contemporary and stunning living space,” Vinayak Chadha, Managing Director, The KariGhars said.

As Shaily Ganatra, Interior Designer and Founder at The Auura Interior Design Studio sums up, “As we are moving into a new era, we are fraught with the issues of ecological and economic conservation. Light your home with stunning and gorgeous illumination options that are formulated with advanced technology and also help you cut down on your electricity bills. When we talk about energy-efficient lighting, oftentimes we think about fixtures that are monotonous and drab. However, in this new era, we have a plethora of lighting options that are beautiful and aesthetically pleasing as well as functionally viable. They are a great alternative that more people need to incorporate in their abodes. Replacing your most frequently used light bulbs and fixtures, and opting for environmentally safe lighting is a great way to express your ecologically conscious mindset. In the design of future houses, we will definitely be using energy-efficient lighting.”

Hits: 451